Maybe you’re a novice who has yet to squeeze into that first pair of sexy Lycra shorts. Or perhaps you’re a seasoned racer who is seeking ways to become stronger and faster. Whatever the case, you will be well served by Ed Pavelka’s comprehensive guide, which takes the reader on a highly readable ride through road cycling–from the basics of handling and maintenance to the subtle intricacies of racing. Instead of asking the reader to take his word on every subject, Pavelka has gathered a cast of Olympians and renowned mechanics to tackle whichever topic reflects his or her strongest suit. Besides the basics, chapters also include in-depth advice on sprinting, hill climbing, using heart monitors effectively, training indoors during the wintry months, and even surviving your commute in the concrete jungle. If that’s not enough, Pavelka has devoted an entire section to medical concerns, including overtraining, sore knees, and saddle sores. –Ben Tiffany

Review
“In this book are all the basic techniques and skills we use in pro road racing, translated for fast recreational riders.”–Ron Kiefel, former pro cyclist

“Bicycling magazine has assembled the most comprehensive book about road cycling in recent years. Everything you need to know about this wonderful sport is clearly presented and easy to put to use.”–Alex Stieda, first North American to lead the Tour de France

“Cycling is a sport to be enjoyed for a lifetime. Learn from the experts, test your limits, then go explore the world.”–Karen Kurreck, former world time trial champion

Every cyclist dreams of making the Big Trip, the Grand Cycle Tour abroad. The Adventure Cycling Handbook is the comprehensive manual that will make that dream a reality whether it’s riding the Karakoram Highway, cycling in Tibet or pedaling from Patagonia to Alaska. So whether cyclists are planning their own Big Trip or just enjoy reading about other people’s adventures, the handbook is guaranteed to illuminate, entertain and above all, inspire.

>Which bike to take — top ten internationally-available bikes
>Preparing a bike for long-range touring — load carrying, tools, spares, and repairs
>Clothing, camping gear, health, and survival
>Air-freighting a bike
>Transcontinental route outlines — across Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America
>Tales from the saddle — firsthand accounts of spoke-bending biking adventures worldwide; battling against the elements on epic journeys: Kyrgyzstan, India, The Road to Everest, Travels on a Recumbent, Costa Rica, Siberia, Crossing Europe in 1929, Californian Wine Tour

These days, bike riders, like runners, are not satisfied with just a tour around the neighborhood. Long-distance challenges like the AIDS Ride and Race Across America (RAAM) have grown in popularity. Burke and Pavelka, both with years of experience competing, writing about the sport, and working with professional cyclists, team up for this thorough resource that includes all facets of long-distance biking. Not only do they cover the basics, such as best bike gear, proper nutrition, and what type of bike to buy, but they give the lowdown on the latest equipment and explain bike technology without oversimplifying. Readers will become familiar with bike lingo such as dual-suspension, aero bars, and lactate threshold. Serious bikers will surely mark, part 2, “The Rides,” which includes training schedules, charts, and race tactics to prepare beginners and experienced cyclists for Centuries (100 mile rides) to Ultra’s (any distance over 100 miles). Although the book includes a small section on women’s issues, a good supplement would be The Female Cyclist (Velo Press, 1999). Recommended to build any cyclist’s knowledge and confidence to conquer long rides. Brenda Barrera
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
Ride Strong, Ride Long … Whether Your Goal Is 30 Miles or 3,000

From two of the country’s top cycling experts the most comprehensive guide ever to achieving the strength, skills, and strategies you need for long-distance riding. Whether you’re training for day rides, centuries, or cross-country trips, The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling helps you choose the right equipment, train step-by-step, and map out your riding strategy so that you can go the distance.

Discover how to:
* Make the most of every hour on your bike
* Build your mileage base efficiently
* Customize your training to suit your personality and physical capabilities
* Build extra training time into your hectic schedule
* Avoid injuries and the dangers of overtraining
* Achieve the mental edge you need to ride farther and faster
* Train for both road and off-road touring
* Choose cycling gear that goes and goes
* Eat for the long haul– nutrtion before, during, and after your rides

To help you achieve your riding goals, The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling gives you complete, step-by-step training programs for riding a half-century, century, double century, and beyond. You’ll also find strategies and techniques for special situations, such as riding in bed weather and riding at night. Published by the world’s leading authority on bicycling, this informative guide is a must-have for all cycling enthusiasts.

Lennard Zinn is a cycling god. Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance is revered as a bible among the fat-tire set; he now extends the gospel to the rest of the cycling faithful in Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance.

From simple, routine maintenance to more complicated tasks, Zinn remains “convinced that anyone with an opposable thumb can perform any repair on a bike.” He begins with “Basic Stuff” such as pre-ride inspections and cleaning the drive train, and continues on through the super-advanced task of wheel building–arguing that “the construction of a good set of bicycle wheels is actually a straightforward task.” Zinn guides readers step by step through every possible repair on every possible part, handlebar grips to Maric Mektronic electronic shifting, with plain-speaking text and helpful illustrations. There’s even a section on emergency repairs, including unexpected advice such as straightening a bent rim by hitting it against the ground: “You may be surprised how straight you can get a wheel this way.”

This comprehensive manual is essential reading for those who love their bike. “All you have to do is follow the instructions and trust yourself.” Indeed. –M. Stein –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Today’s bicycles are complicated machines that can be expensive to maintain and repair. Zinn (The Mountain Bike Owner’s Manual) has written this book to help both the leisure bike rider and expert mechanic handle almost any problem associated with road bikes. In an effort to appeal to people of varying mechanical abilities, the book separates bicycle repair procedures into three levels, depending on difficulty. Level one is reserved for novices, while levels two and three are for more mechanically savvy bike owners. Each chapter covers a certain bicycle component and includes the tools needed to repair that particular part. Zinn also includes troubleshooting guides at the conclusion of each chapter and, for those interested only in general maintenance, a chapter that covers the basics of keeping a bike road-worthy. Whether someone is experienced at repairing bicycles or is just a weekend rider, this book includes everything to keep bikes rolling. Recommended for all public libraries.DPatrick Mahoney, Off-Campus Lib. Svcs., Central Michigan Univ., Mount Pleasant
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Power meters are rapidly becoming an invaluable part of training and racing among professional cyclists and triathletes, amateurs looking for a competitive edge, and gear fiends. For coaches and athletes, these devices offer enormous potential for targeting and timing training to realize a rider’s goals. Yet few athletes or coaches understand how to interpret the data for optimal results, and few do more than consider the possibility of wattage training. Training and Racing with a Power Meter decrypts the layers of information and explains how to begin a program that effectively integrates power. Hunter Allen and Andrew Coggan have conducted extensive research and consulted with manufacturers to deliver the most sophisticated and scientific approach to training on the market, allowing riders to tap every last watt of power. The book includes cogent case studies, sample power workouts, and a chapter on the future of training and racing with these indispensable devices.